His middle name is Beaconsfield, born July 1883, died March 1962. He played in the Midlands mainly for Willenhall Swifts and then Small Heath (later to become Birmingham City) in Division 2 in August 1900, aged 17.
He later played for Blackpool and scored his first senior goal on September 26th 1903 v Stockport County. His total was 8 apps and 5 goals, so he was signed by Blackburn Rovers for 3 years (apps 51 goals 9). When he left the club, the locals arranged for the town's Palace Theatre Band to parade on his farewell and the crowd sang "For he's a jolly good fellow" and "Auld Lang Syne".I wonder if the lads in North London will do the same when Dele Alli finally leaves Spurs??
For £250, he was transfered to Southern League, Brentford FC (36 apps 14 goals), then he went to QPR (37 apps 14 goals) again in the S.L.
As Southern League winners, QPR were asked to play Manchester United, the Football League Winners, in the 1908 FA Charity Shield at Stamford Bridge. Frederick played in a 1-1 draw with a crowd of 6,000 on April 27th. The "replay" took place on the 29th August at the start of the new season and drew 50,000 fans to The Bridge raising £1000 for Charity. There was NO CHARITY in the QPR directors when selecting the team for the replay. Fred, over summer, had been transfered to Middlesbrough, but was keen to play with his ex-mates. The big wigs at QPR refused to pick him, despite the FA allowing him to join in. By all accounts, he had been insisting on a maximum wage at QPR, which didn't go down too well with the directors.
He earned 5 caps for England in 1909. It was Middlesbrough next 1912 (92 apps 11 goals), then drifting to Halifax Town, Stockport, Halifax again.
By 1914 Fred was in Germany and was coaching the German Olympic team. War started and of course Fred became a POW in Ruhleben in Spandau, Berlin. He had 5000 inmates and with permission from the camp boss, he arranged football matches and a league. In his teams were Steve Bloomer and Fred Spiksley, among other England footballers.
Amongst some of his in-mates were Nobel Prize winner Sir James Chadwick, Prince Monolulu, a flambuoyant horserace tipster and Geoffrey Pyke, an eccentric journalist.
In 1918 he was free, so he helped coach France in the 1920 Olympics and then managed in Spain at Racing Santander, Athletico Bilbao, Ath Madrid and Oviedo. In 1929, he coached Spain to a 4-3 victory over England, the first time England had been beaten (ever) by a non-Brtish national team.
In 1931, he was at Bilbao again when they beat Barcelona 12-1(still a record). In 1933 the Civil War started, so he headed home and ended up at glamorous Barrow FC from 1938-44! (he was 57 years old).
In 1959 Fred was invited back to Bilbao's San Mames' Stadium for a homage. Desite being frail he "kicked off", a game between Athletic and Chelsea. Known by the Spanish as EL BOMBIN (bowler hat), he was awarded the "Distinguished Members' Medal" which was pinned on to his familiar Crombie-a high quality, three-quarter length coat. His statue stands at the stadium.
He retired to Poole in Dorset where he died in March 1962 and was buried at Lytchett Matravers.
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